In the Catbird Seat/Joe Kirkish

Does the word “hummus” bring up mouth-watering thoughts? How about “baba ganoosh?”

If there’s one thing unique about Americans-it’s their love for trendy foreign foods, going all the way back to a little restaurant in Boston that began selling pizza, and the Italian craze was on. Of course, there’s always been a love of foods originating in other countries.

And now, the rage is for exotic dishes from the Middle East with their tantalizing, new flavors. Maria Khalif’s beautifully illustrated “The Middle Eastern Cookbook” is packed with tasty, exotic dishes some simply made with traditional foods, others more complex with ingredients available in places like the Keweenaw Coop. Here are a few samples:

BABA GHANNOUJ (bah-bah ganoosh), an eggplant & tahini dip:

1 large eggplant

1 peeled garlic clove

1t salt

2 oz tahini

2T yogurt

juice of a lemon

Parsley sprigs and

2T olive oil (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 425. Pierce eggplant with a fork. Place it on a baking sheet & bake or grill over a charcoal fire about 30:00, until soft, turning frequently. Cool under running water.

Line a deep pan with the potato slices, onion rings, & half the tomato slices. Place a generous T of stuffin the in the center of each leaf, on the stem side. Fold the leaf sides over the stuffing, then roll up firmly but not too tightly. Repeat with all remaining leaves.

Pack the rolls flap-side down in the pan. Top with remaining tomato slices. Add water to cover the rolls, then place a plate on top of rolls to keep them intact during cooking. Bring to boil. Reduce heat & simmer gently, 45:00, until rice is tender. Serve hot or cold.

Another book, a household treasure, comes from Ralph Nadar’s mother, Rose, who wrote “It Happened in the Kitchen: Recipes for Food & Thought.” No illustrations, just 180 pages in paperback, stuffed with delicious Lebanese recipes including the best rice pudding ever interspersed with thought-provoking information on how to raise a family, far more sensible than what comes from so-called authorities. When asked which of her children she loved most, for example, she came back quickly with “the one who at the moment needs me the most.”